Kemp Emma, Sillence Elizabeth, Thomas Lisa
School of Psychology, Sheffield University, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
PLOS Digit Health. 2024 Aug 16;3(8):e0000387. doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000387. eCollection 2024 Aug.
During pregnancy and early motherhood, the perinatal period, women use a variety of resources including digital resources to support social interactions, information seeking and health monitoring. While previous studies have investigated specific timepoints, this study takes a more holistic approach to understand how information needs and resources change over the perinatal period. Furthermore, we include the perspective of maternity healthcare professionals to better understand the relationship between different stakeholders in the information work of perinatal women. A total of 25 interviews with 10 UK based mothers and 5 healthcare professionals (3 Midwives and 2 Health visitors) were conducted. Perinatal women were asked about their information and support needs throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period, healthcare professionals were asked about information and support provision to perinatal women. Information work activities were grouped along stages of the perinatal timeline from pre-pregnancy to the postanal period to illustrate the work and perspectives of the women and the healthcare professionals. Information work varies considerably over the timeline of the perinatal period, shifting back and forth in focus between mother and baby. information work during this period consists of many information related activities including seeking, monitoring, recording, questioning, sharing and checking. The importance of the HCPs as stakeholders in this work is notable as is the digital support for information work. Importantly, paper-based resources are still an important shared resource allowing reflection and supporting communication. Information work for women varies across the perinatal timeline. Particular challenges exist at key transition points, and we suggest design considerations for more integrated digital resources that support information work focused on mother and baby to enhance communication between perinatal women and healthcare professionals.
在孕期和孕早期这一围产期，女性会利用包括数字资源在内的各种资源来支持社交互动、信息查询和健康监测。虽然之前的研究调查了特定的时间点，但本研究采用了更全面的方法来了解围产期信息需求和资源是如何变化的。此外，我们纳入了产科医护人员的观点，以便更好地理解围产期女性信息工作中不同利益相关者之间的关系。我们总共对10位英国母亲和5位医护人员（3位助产士和2位健康访视员）进行了25次访谈。我们询问了围产期女性在整个孕期和产后的信息及支持需求，询问了医护人员为围产期女性提供信息及支持的情况。信息工作活动按照围产期时间线的阶段进行分组，从孕前到产后，以说明女性和医护人员的工作及观点。围产期的信息工作在整个时间线上有很大差异，重点在母亲和婴儿之间来回转换。这一时期的信息工作包括许多与信息相关的活动，如查询、监测、记录、询问、分享和核实。医护人员作为这项工作中的利益相关者的重要性以及信息工作的数字支持都很显著。重要的是，纸质资源仍然是一种重要的共享资源，有助于反思和支持交流。女性的信息工作在围产期时间线上各不相同。在关键的过渡点存在特殊挑战，我们建议在设计上考虑提供更综合的数字资源，以支持聚焦于母亲和婴儿的信息工作，从而加强围产期女性与医护人员之间的沟通。
